INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA has selected 23 athletics administrators from member colleges, universities and athletics conferences for the 2009-10 Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females. 

The NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males and Females was created to address the critical shortage of senior-level professionals of color in athletics administration at NCAA member colleges and universities and athletics conference offices.    According to the NCAA’s latest study of race demographics in intercollegiate athletics, minorities hold just  14.4 percent of positions in athletics administration.

The Leadership Institute takes the administrators through 12 months of training and skills development that will enhance their job-related competencies in four specific program areas and conclude with an intensive workshop.    The programs and the workshop are led by a diverse group of consultants and leaders in business, higher education and intercollegiate athletics.    The four programs areas are: leadership and administration; human resource management; finance and fundraising; and booster, public and media relations.   The weeklong intensive workshop, called the inner game of leadership, focuses on all four of the program areas.   

The Leadership Institute participants have three or more years of full-time athletics administration experience or transferable administrative experiences and have expressed an interest in continuing to develop professionally as administrators within intercollegiate athletics.   The candidates submitted a letter of recommendation, a resume and a personal statement to the NCAA selection committee, which consisted of members on the Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee and the Committee on Women’s Athletics.   The Institute, which was established in 2001, is held in Indianapolis and administered by the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion group.   

The 23 athletics administrators selected for program are:

Robert Carson, assistant director, student services, James Madison University

Phoebe Chalk, associate athletics director, The University of Arizona

Jonacani Damuni, associate director of academics, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville

Keisha Dunlap, assistant commissioner for sports services, Conference USA

Michelle Edwards, director of basketball operations, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Shantey Hill, associate athletics director/senior woman administrator, Long Island University-C.W. Post

Joi Irby, associate director of athletics, senior woman administrator, Assumption College

Derrick Johnson, athletic operations manager/sports information director, Benedict College

Selina Kohn, associate athletic director/senior woman administrator, Paine College

Ericka Lavendar, assistant director, North Carolina State University

Katreshia Louis, assistant director of compliance, Georgia Tech University

Renee Madison, assistant director of enforcement, NCAA

George Midgett, compliance coordinator, Vanderbilt University

David Ortega, compliance director, University of California Berkeley

Bob Park, director of information technology, UCLA

Lawanda Pearson, academic advisor/head softball coach, Clark Atlanta University

Cynthia Prieto, senior academic advisor, Washington State University

Jay Rossello, director of legal affairs/assistant general counsel, NCAA

Temeka Samuels, assistant director of ticket operations, Bradley University

Sean Simmons, assistant athletics director/student services & sports operations, Robert Morris University

Jaysen Spencer, academic counselor, University of Missouri-Columbia

Morris White, director of athletics marketing, promotions and licensing, Northwest Missouri State University

Darrol Woods, assistant director of athletics for finance, Grambling State University

The sessions are:

Session I:  Leadership and Administration

August 13-16, 2009

Focuses on the impact of leadership at an organization, including the shaping of the organizational vision, climate, culture and behavior; managing difference; strategic planning; and networking.

Session II: Human Resource Management

October 15-18, 2009

Focuses on recruitment, supervision and training employees; working with people in high-profile positions; multicultural and diversity issues; human resource legal issues; culture and on-boarding.

Session III: Finance and Fundraising

November 12-15, 2009

This workshop examines budgeting management approaches, including contingency funding for postseason and unforeseeable events and execution of contracts.  Also, an overview of developing fund-raising goals and strategies will be explored.

Session IV: Booster, Public and Media Relations

February 4-7, 2009

Focuses on the multifaceted areas of booster, public and media relations, including staffing needs; serving as an information source; direct public contact situations; involvement of players and teams with the community; and overall coordination and management of relations efforts.

Weeklong Session: Inner Game of Leadership

June 20-24, 2009

The week-long intensive workshop will focus on the practical implications of the workshop areas through review and discussion of case studies.  Person-centered core competencies necessary for success, including teamwork; drive and perseverance; influence and communication will also be examined.